Letter  OIG Bulletin, February 2022: Letter from Inspector General Glenn A. Cunha

Date:	02/25/2022
Organization:	Office of the Inspector General
Referenced Sources:	The OIG is pleased to announce the publication of the February 2022, OIG Bulletin, Vol. 3, #1

Welcome to the First OIG Bulletin of 2022

Greetings,

I look forward to collaborating with you in the months ahead to protect government resources from fraud, waste and abuse and to ensure that public resources go where they are needed most.

Over the last two years, many jurisdictions throughout the Commonwealth received federal funds to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic consequences. Our Office is here to help jurisdictions use these funds properly. Last month, I created the Pandemic Funding Oversight Unit within the OIG to coordinate our oversight of these important funds. We compiled a list of previous OIG Bulletin articles related to the use of federal funds as well as helpful resources from federal agencies, other state agencies and professional organizations. In addition, this spring, the Office is offering free webinars on the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), where attendees will learn about eligible uses of ARPA funds, applying Chapter 30B to the use of ARPA funds, complying with federal single audit requirements and more. Please see "Free MCPPO Seminars" for more information about these webinars and other free OIG training opportunities. Also, please see "Ensuring Effective Use of ARPA Funds by Grant Recipients" for guidance from our Office about ensuring effective use of ARPA funds by grant recipients.

In this issue of the OIG Bulletin, you will find information about compliance with Chapter 30B during supply chain disruptions, guidance about preventing disability parking placard abuse and updates on new ways to submit MCPPO Designation applications and Chapter 30B questions to our Office. You will also find updates about several recent OIG investigations. For example, our Office worked with other state and federal agencies to investigate Jasiel Correia, the former mayor of Fall River. A jury convicted Correia of defrauding investors and extorting marijuana vendors, and in September 2021, a judge sentenced him to six years in prison and ordered him to pay more than $800,000 in forfeitures and restitution. Two of Correia’s co-conspirators pled guilty and were also sentenced last year. In cooperation with Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office and the MBTA Transit Police Department, the OIG worked on another investigation that resulted in criminal charges against three former transit police officers for allegedly receiving pay for hours they did not work. These are just a few updates that demonstrate the value of investigating fraud, waste and abuse in government spending.

Finally, I want to take this opportunity to recognize Karima Ortolano, our first Justice Geraldine Hines Legal Fellow, who will complete her two-year fellowship in March. In addition to her legal work, Karima developed a new partnership with Boston Partners in Education to provide academic mentoring to Boston Public School students. I also want to welcome our second Hines Legal Fellow, Sam Shepard, who joined the Office this month. We look forward to working with Sam over the next two years.

As always, thank you for reading this issue of the OIG Bulletin and for your commitment to good government. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

 

 

 

Glenn A. Cunha